The annual Jaffjam Jaffrey Family Jamboree will be held this Saturday at Community Field in Jaffrey, featuring free backpacks with school supplies and free basic haircuts, along with fair games and food.
The community event is organized by Harvest Christian Fellowship and sponsored by various town organizations and businesses.
Harvest Christian Fellowship Pastor and Jaffjam Director Rob Kectic said that the event started around the concept of stocking backpacks for school children, but has grown into a community event.
“We wanted to build a whole family fun day around it,” said Kectic. “A backpack can be $20 or $25 bucks. For a family of three, between that and haircuts, we might put $100 back in your pocket.”
Kectic said that, as a father himself, he knows the value of that.
“If someone handed me $50, it wouldn’t have changed my life — but it might have changed my day, and that’s really what we’re looking to do. We really do it to let people know that God cares about them, even in something that might seem small or insignificant.”
The fair includes free fair foods, live music and fun games for all ages. Music will be provided by the Harvest Christian Fellowship band. There are also carnival games, including the dunk tank and hammer swing. Three professional haircutters, one more than in previous years, will provide basic haircuts for free.
The Baby Blessing tent will provide free diapers and wipes. Diapers are available in every size. Based on previous demand, Kectic said there will be a larger stock of bigger sizes this year.
About 250 backpacks with school supplies will be given out.
The event is sponsored by, among others, Mountain Shade, Real Power, Belletetes, Hannaford, Savron Graphics, and the Jaffrey-Rindge Veterinary Hospital.
Jaffjam is held on Saturday, Aug. 8 at Community Field in Jaffrey from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.